Immunization in New South Wales

Immunization is the most important single public health measure available to control many important infectious diseases. The childhood schedule of immunization consists of five injections of TA/CDT, five doses of Sabin vaccine, one injection of measles vaccine, and one injection of rubella vaccine. Even if TA/CDT and Sabin are given at the same time, this still means seven decisions to be made by the mother to take her child for immunization. Unless there is an effective health education programme, combined with cheap convenient effective immunization facilities, the herd immunity might drop to a level at which epidemics could occur. This article deals with the deterrents to immunization and suggests means of overcoming them.